Adjustable printing die



nite States 11 Claims. (Cl. 101-110) This invention relates to postagemeters and particularly to the projection and retraction of the date andtown printing dies thereof.

In accordance with postal regulations various classes of mail requiredifferent printings, and heretofore means have been devised forpermitting the movement of either the dater die or the dater and towndie to non-printing position, and for returning either the town diealone, or both the town and dater dies to printing position in order tomeet these requirements. One example of such a device is illustrated inthe patent to J. W. Ogden, No. 2,179,269 which issued November 7, 1939.

The present invention has for its object the positive controlling of thetown and dater dies so that they may be either retracted from orreturned to the printing surface as desired. The necessity for access tothe printing surfaces to depress the dies, and the necessity for theseparate step of manual depression of the dies to retracted position istherefore obviated.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of combinedprojection cam and positive withdrawal means so arranged that when theprojecting cam is not in operation with respect to a particular die thewithdrawal means is acting thereon, and vice versa.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of improvedcontrols for operating the projection cam and withdrawal means, of suchnature as to firmly retain the parts in the selected position and avoidthe necessity for independent or yielding detent means.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means forpositively preventing the inadvertent return of the retracted dies toprinting position.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that various changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale throughthe housing and printing drum of a postage meter according to theinvention, illustrating the town die and dater die both in printingposition.

Fig. 2 is a section taken appxomiately on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showingthe control lever and its positioning means.

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but withthe housing omitted.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the town dieprojected to printing position and the dater die retracted.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but showing both the town anddater dies in retracted positions.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, butshowing the dies in full.

2,708,402 Patented May 17, 1955 Fig. 7 is a face view of the impressionmade by the postage printer when set for first and fourth class mail (asindicated by the legend applied to this View) and when the parts are inthe position of Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to the left-hand portion of Fig. 7and showing the impression made when the parts are set for third classmail, i. e. in the position of Figs. 4 and 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 8 and showing theimpression made when the parts are set for registered mail, i. e. in theposition of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a printing drum 11 is rotatablymounted within a casing 13 and is designed to make one revolution eachtime an impression is required. The printing portions thereof are inkedand impressed against the envelope, postage strip or other mailablematter during this operation. When the rotation has been completed thedrum 11 is compelled to return to a predetermined rest position.

The printing drum carries on its surface a number of rinting areas suchas those provided by postal indicia die 15, town die 17 and dater die19. The town die 17 includes a depending sleeve portion 21 which isslidable in an opening 23 formed in the indicia die 15 and in the drum11, and has type upon the upper surface of its head portion 22 forprinting the postmark ring or town identification. An aperture 25 in thetown die surface receives the dater die 19 and allows the same to makean impression Within the town die ring. The dater die 19 is made up of agroup 27 of date printing elements, preferably in the form of settablewheels mounted on a shaft 29 and maintained in set position thereon bysuitable detent means 36. The shaft is supported in a yoke member orcarriage 31 slidable within the sleeve portion 21 of the town die andunderlying the head or indicia bearing portion 22 thereof.

For projecting the dies into printing position there is provided anoperating member or shaft 33 rotatably mounted in the drum 11 andincluding a pair of cams 35 and 37 arranged inwardly of the drum 11 fromthe dies 17 and 19. The cams each include three different cam surfacesfor cooperation with the bottoms of sleeve portion 21 and carriage 31.The first of these is a curved surface 39 remote from the shaft center.When surface 39 is turned towards the dies 17 and 19 they are bothprojected into printing position as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. A secondsurface of each cam is a flat surface 41 nearer the axis of shaft 33 andthe same is reached by a clockwise rotation of degrees from the shaftposition of Fig. 3. Turning of the shaft so that flats 41 are towardsthe dies 17 and 19 permits both dies to assume a retracted, non-printingposition, as seen in Fig. 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction,from the Fig. 3 position described above, presents a pair of compoundsurfaces to the dies. Here the axially innermost surfaces 43 are flatssimilar in height to flats 41, which permit the dater die 19 to bedepressed from printing position. The axially outermost portions of thecams, however, are curved surfaces 45 similar in height to portions 39.These surfaces, at the same time compel projection of town die 17 intoprinting position. This situation is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4and 6.

According to the present invention, the carriage 31 also includes ahook, drafting member, or operator 47 which may be formed as an integralprojection thereof. extending downwardly and between the camenlargements 35 and 37. A bar 49 extending parallel to the axis of shaft33, is mounted at its ends in the enlargements 35 and 37 so as to formin effect a unitary part of the operating member or shaft 33, and is solocated that when surfaces 39 engage the dies 17 and 19, the bar 49assumes 3 an upward, inoperative position as shown in Fig. 3.Counterclockwise rotation of shaft 33 to the Fig. 4 position, however,causes the bar 4-9 to engage the operator 47 and retract the datercarriage 31 against cam surfaces 43, while town die 17remains projectedby the cam surfaces 45.

The town die 17 is provided with a T-shaped element 59 having a hookedend forming a draft member or operator 51 and a transverse head 53 whichhas a nonsliding fit in a transverse slot 55 in the head portion 22 ofthe town die 17L The operator 51 is arranged to slide lengthwise in aslot 57 in the dater carriage 31. Clockwise rotation of the shaft 33 tothe Fig. position causes the bar 49 to engage the operator 51 andretract the town die 17. Since the head 22 of the town die overlies thedater carriage 31, the latter is also retracted and both are drawn intonon-printing position against the surfaces 41 of cams 35 and The shaft33 extends at one end to and beyond the side surface of the drum 11. Theend is slotted as indicated by reference character 59 to receive the endof a control lever 61 pivotally mounted within the slot 59. Aspring-pressed plunger '63 engages the lever 61 to one side of its pivotand normally urges the body of the lever towards the face of the drum11. The lever 61 is provided for the purpose of rotating the shaft 33 tothe desired position, and when the same is vertical, with the drum 11 inits rest position, the dater and town die parts are in the position ofFigs. 1 and 3. Movement of lever 61 90 degrees to the left places theparts in the position of Figs. 4 and 6, and movement 90 degrees to theright places the parts in the Fig. 5 position.

In order that the dies 17 and 19 will be firmly held in the desiredposition in which they are placed, each location of the lever is definedby a recess in the drum face (:5 receiving a projection 67 extendingfrom the lever 61 towards said face 65. Recess 69 represents the firstor upright position of the lever, and indicia 71 on the face 65 adjacentto the recess identifies it as being the appropriate setting for theprinting of first class or fourth class mail with both dies 17 and 19projected to printing position. Recess 73 defines the left-handposition, and has corresponding indicia 75' which identifies it as beingfor third class mail with the town die 17 projected and the dater die 19retracted. Recess '77 defines the righthand position and has adjacentthereto indicia 79 which identities it as being the setting forregistered mail with both of dies 17 and 19 retracted. The urging oflever 61 by plunger 63 insures that the projection 69 will drop into theappropriate recess same is approached by the lever, and that the leverwill remain in the set position and locking the shaft 33 againstrotation until another setting is desired. it will also be noted that aretracted die, such as die 19 in the third class position or either ofdies 17 and 19 in the registered mail position, is positively lockedagainst projection to printing position. This occurs first, because theshaft 33 is positively locked against rotation by the reception ofprojection 69 in the appropriate recess '73 or 77, and second, becauseof the positive nature of the interengagement between the bar 49 and thehooked end of operator 47 or 51. When the dies 17 and 19 have both beenextended to a printing position by the cam 39, as in Figs. 1 and 3, thebar 49 lies between hooked operators 4'7 and 51. The outward movement islimited however, by a pin 85 projecting from a sliding collar 86 andextending into a slot 87 of the sleeve portion 21 of the town die 17.The collar 86 is retained within a recess 88 in the printing drum and isnormally urge d toward the town die by means of a sprin the town anddater dies may be effected if the collar is forced rearward to removethe pin 85 from the slot 87.

In order that the lever 61 may be readily manipulated, an opening 31 isprovided in the side of the housing 13, closed by a movable mountedcover 83. The opening 69, 73 or 77 as the 91!. Complete removal of H d81 is so located as to provide access to the lever 61 when the drum 11is in rest position.

In the following description of the operation of the device of theinvention, it is assumed that the starting position is with the drum 11in its normal rest position of Figs. 1 and 2. The user opens the cover83 and swings the control lever 61 outwardly to release the projection69 from whichever recess it is in, and swings the lever until itoverlies the recess defining the desired position. .lr" we assume that afirst class or fourth class printing is desired, the lever is swung tothe vertical position of Fig. 2, and its projection 59 is allowed tomove into the recess 69 under the influence of the spring pressedplunger 63. The cover 83 is then closed. This operation places the camenlargements 35' and 37, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Camsurfaces 39 are therefore holding the dies 17 and 19 in projectedprinting position. A subsequent rotation of the drum 11 during theprinting operation of the meter'therefore produces an impression similarto that shown in Fig. 7. If the user desires to effect a third classprinting, the lever 61 is set in the manner above-described, except thatits projection 67 is placed in the left-hand recess 73. This moves theshaft 33 so that the cam enlargements 35 and 37 assume the positions ofFigs. 4 and 6. Cam surfaces are therefore projecting the town die 17,while the surfaces 43 opposite the dater die carriage 31 permit the sameto be retracted by the action of rod 49 on the operator 47. A subsequentrotation of the drum 11 makes an impression like that shown in Fig. 8 inwhich the date indicia is absent. When the user desires an impressionfor registered mail, the lever 61 is set in the previously describedmanner, except that the projection 67 is placed in the right-hand recess77. This so places the shaft 33 that cam enlargements 3S and 37 assumethe position of Fig. 5. Cam surfaces 41 arethus turned upwardly topermit the retraction of both the town die 17 and the carriage 31 ofdater die 19. This retraction is simultaneously effected by theengagement of rod 49 with the hooked end of operator 51 which draws thetown die towards the shaft 33. The carriage 31 is automaticallyretracted therewith since it has portions underlying the head 22 of thetown die 17. A subsequent rotation of the drum 11 makes an impressionlike that shown in Fig. 9 in which both date and town indicia areabsent.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; a first adjustable printing die slidably mounted in the memberand movable to printing position flush with the indicia printingsurface, or to a non-printing position; a second adjustable printingdieslidably mounted within said first adjustable die; and manipulable meansfor moving one or both of said adjustable diesto printing position, orfor permitting retraction thereof to non-printing position in responseto movement of said means, said manipulable means including a controlmember normally urged towards said printing member, said control memberand printing member including interengaging portions preventing controlmovement of said control member except when the latter is moved awayfrom said printing; member against the normal urging forces to separatesaid interengagiug portions.

2. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; a first adjustable printing die slidably mounted in the memberand movable to printing position flush with the indicia printingsurface, or to a non-printing position; a second adjustable printing.die slidably mounted within said first adjustable die; a singlemanipulable member for moving one or both of said adjustable dies toprinting position, or for permitting retraction thereof to non-printingposition in response to movement of said member; means operated bymovement of said manipulable member for positively simultaneouslyretracting such of said adjustable dies as are not being moved toprinting position, said manipulable member including an indicatorpositioned eXteriorly of said printing member; and indicia on saidprinting member adjacent the path of movement of said indicator forindicating the positions automatically assumed by said adjustable diesfor various positions of said manipulable member.

3. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; a first adjustable printing die slidably mounted in the memberand movable to printing position flush with the indicia printingsurface, or to a non-printing position; a second adjustable printing dieslidably mounted within said first adjustable die; a single operatingmember having means thereon for moving one or both of said adjustabledies to printing position, or for permitting retraction thereof tonon-printing position in response to movement of said member; and meansoperated by movement of said member for positively simultaneouslyretracting such of said adjustable dies as are not being moved toprinting position, said means including a draft element connected toeach of said adjustable dies, and an actuator associated with saidoperating member and engageable with one or the other of said draftelements.

4. In a postage meter having indicia, town and dater dies, a singleoperating member comprising: a first cam for positively moving said towndie and dater die to printing position relative to said indicia die whenthe operating member is moved to one position; a second cam for movingonly the town die to said printing position when the operating member ismoved to another position; and means responsive to a predeterminedmotion of the operating member for positively returning the town die andthe dater die to non-printing position, and for preventing completion ofsuch predetermined motion in case either the town or dater die is notfree to return to non-printing position.

5. In a device of the character described an indicia printing diemember; a town printing die member adjustable relative to said indiciaprinting member to a printing or non-printing position; a dater diemember positioned within the town printing die member and adjustablerelative thereto; a selector having a cam portion arranged to engagesaid adjustable die members, said cam portion including a plurality ofelevations arranged to support one or both of said adjustable dies inprinting position with their printing surfaces flush with said indiciaprinting surface; and hooks associated with said dies for engaging a pinon said cam for retracting such of said adjustable dies as are not beingprojected to printing position by said cam.

6. In a device of the character described an indicia printing diemember; a town printing die member adjustable relative to said indiciaprinting member to a printing or non-printing position; a dater diemember positioned within and partially underlying the town printing diemember and adjustable relative thereto; a rotatable selector shafthaving a cam portion arranged to engage said adjustable die members,said cam portion including a plurality of elevations arranged to supportone or both of said adjustable dies in printing position with theirprinting surfaces flush with said indicia printing surface; retractingdraft elements, one connected With each of said adjustable die members;and means on said shaft and movable therewith for engaging the draftelement connected with the dater die member for retracting the samealone, or for engaging the draft element connected with the town diemember for retracting both of said adjustable die members from printingposition.

7. In a device of the character described an indicia printing diemember; a town printing die member adjustable relative to said indiciaprinting member to a printing or non-printing position; adater diemember positioned within and partially underlying the town printing diemember and adjustable relative thereto; a rotatable selector shafthaving a cam portion arranged to engage said adjustable die members,said cam portions including a plurality of elevations arranged tosupport one or both of said adjustable dies in printing position withtheir printing surfaces flush with said indicia printing surface;retracting draft elements, one connected with each of said adjustabledie members; means on said shaft and movable therewith for engaging thedraft element connected with the dater die member for retracting thesame alone, or for engaging the draft element connected with the towndie member for retracting both of said adjustable die members fromprinting position; a control lever swingably mounted on said shaft andspring urged towards said printing member, said printing member havingrecesses adjacent the path of travel of said lever during rotation ofsaid shaft corresponding to the various adjusted positions of saidadjustable dies; and means on said lever receivable in any one of saidrecesses when the lever moves towards said printing member for lockingthe shaft and adjustable dies in the corresponding selected adjustedposition.

8. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; an adjustable die slidably mounted in the member and movable toprinting position flush with the indicia printing surface or retractableto a nonprinting position, said printing die having an outer endcarrying the printing surface and an inner end constituting a foot; anoperating member rotatable in said printing member adjacent said foot; acam on said operating member for engaging said foot and sliding said dieto printing position when the operating member is rotated in onedirection; a hook on said die extending beyond said foot; and aretracting element projecting from the cam and engageable with said hookto retract the die when the operating member is rotated in the oppositedirection.

9. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; an adjustable die slidably mounted in the member and movable toprinting position flush with the indicia printing surface or retractableto a nonprinting position, said printing die having an outer endcarrying the printing surface and an inner end constituting a foot; anoperating member rotatable in said printing member adjacent said foot; apair of spaced cams on said operating member for engaging said foot atopposite sides and sliding said die to printing position when theoperating member is rotated in one direction; a hook on said dieextending beyond said foot and between said cams; and a retractingelement on the operating member between the cams and engageable withsaid hook to retract the die when the operating member is rotated in theopposite direction.

10. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; an adjustable die slidably mounted in the member and movable toprinting position flush with the indicia printing surface or retractableto a nonprinting position, said printing die having an outer endcarrying the printing surface and an inner end constituting a foot andcarrying a draft member adjacent said foot; operating means movable insaid printing member adjacent said foot and operable to two positionsone for engaging and moving said foot to move the die to printingposition and another for engaging and moving said draft member toretract the die to non-printing position, said operating means beingarranged to clear said draft member when said die is in printingposition, whereby the die can be withdrawn from the printing memberwithout affecting said operating means.

11. In combination with a printing member having an indicia printingsurface; a first adjustable die slidably mounted in the member andmovable to printing position flush with the indicia printing surface, orretractable to non-printing position; a second adjustable printing dieslidably mounted within the first adjustable die to move betweenprinting and non-printing position; and a single operating membermovably mounted in said printing membet-and engageable with saiddies'for positively moving the same to printing position or forpositively retracting them to non-printing position, said operatingmember being movable to three positions, one in which said first die ismoved'to printing position and said second die ispositively retracted, asecond position in which both of said dies are moved to printingposition, and a third position inwhich both' of said dies are positivelyretracted, the positive connections between said operating memher andsaid dies being such that movement of the operating member to the firstposition is prevented in case the second die is not free to retractwithin the first die, and movement of the operating member to the thirdposition is prevented in case the'first die is not free to retract;

References Cited in the vfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS YoungNov; 7, 1905 Pitney Dec. 12, 1916 Lamoureux Sept. 15, 1925 Kohler Mar.31, 1931 Mack Mar; 3, 1936 Ogden Nov. 7, 1939- Rouan June 18, 1940' RyanDec. 10, 1946' Ryan Oct. 3, 1950*

